TERRANCE MOSS OF WITNEY CAUGHT WITH OVER 1,000 BESTIALITY IMAGES AND CHILD INDECENCY PICTURES

In July 2018, a disturbing case emerged involving Terrance Moss, a 75-year-old resident of Thorney Leys in Witney, who was found to possess an alarming collection of illegal images. Moss was caught with more than 1,300 extreme pornographic images, including those involving animals engaged in sexual acts, as well as indecent images of children. The case drew significant attention due to the disturbing nature of the material and the implications for community safety.

According to court records, police executed a search warrant at Moss's residence on February 24 of the previous year. During the raid, authorities seized a laptop, a computer, and a USB drive for analysis. The subsequent investigation revealed a troubling cache of digital content, including 11 indecent images of children aged between seven and eleven. These images were part of a larger collection of depraved material involving animals, which Moss had stored on his devices.

Further examination uncovered web searches conducted via Google, where Moss had looked up terms such as ‘bestiality’ and ‘Japanese underage naked girls,’ indicating premeditated interest in illegal and highly disturbing content. The police findings painted a clear picture of a man involved in the possession of highly illegal and morally reprehensible material.

During the court proceedings, Moss’s defense lawyer, Graeme Logan, argued that his client was a man of ‘essentially good character.’ He highlighted Moss’s background, noting that he had served in the Royal Navy and had been married for over 60 years. Despite the severity of the evidence, the defense sought leniency based on Moss’s personal history and character.

Judge Zoe Smith presided over the case at Oxford Crown Court. While acknowledging that the volume of illegal images was ‘a great many’ and that the offense clearly crossed the threshold for custodial sentence, she ultimately decided to suspend the jail term. Moss was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years. Additionally, he was placed under a community order that includes a requirement to participate in 15 days of rehabilitation activities and a sex offenders’ treatment program.

Furthermore, Moss was ordered to pay costs amounting to £500 and to sign the sex offenders register for a period of seven years. The judge’s decision reflected a balance between the seriousness of the crimes and considerations of Moss’s personal circumstances, emphasizing rehabilitation and community safety over immediate incarceration.